Overview
ISO 11125-1:2018 - "Preparation of steel substrates before application of paints and related products - Test methods for metallic blast-cleaning abrasives - Part 1: Sampling" specifies a standardized method for sampling metallic blast-cleaning abrasives from consignments and subdividing samples for laboratory testing. It is the sampling component of the ISO 11125 test-method series and is intended to ensure representative, reproducible samples for downstream tests (particle size, hardness, moisture, contamination, etc.).
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope: Sampling procedure for metallic blast-cleaning abrasives and subdivision into quantities suitable for tests in other parts of ISO 11125.
- Apparatus:
- Sample thief: seamless steel tube, approx. 25 mm inside diameter and 800 mm length, pointed at one end, “T” handle, holes along the length spaced 50 mm apart; hole diameter ≈ three times the largest particle (note: commonly 10 mm for metallic abrasives).
- Sample divider / riffler for mechanical reduction of mixed samples.
- Number of sample units: Table-based sampling frequency by consignment mass (examples):
- 1 t → sample 1 unit
- 2–5 t → sample 2 units
- 6–10 t → sample 3 units
- 11–25 t → sample 5 units
- >25 t → 5 units per 25 t
- Sampling procedure:
- Pallets with bags/boxes: take a single ~500 g sample from one bag/box per pallet.
- Drums / bulk sacks: use the sample thief to take three single samples from different areas, mix to form a mixed sample.
- Sample reduction: Subdivide mixed samples mechanically until a test sample of ~500 g is obtained; single pallet samples generally require no reduction.
- Storage & handling: Store test samples in sealed containers; remix before taking test portions but do not remix used portions back into retained sample.
- Identification: Test samples must include product details (per ISO 11124), consignment identification (supplier, order number, dates), and traceability references.
Applications and users
ISO 11125-1 is used for quality control, supplier acceptance, conformity testing and performance verification in industries that prepare steel substrates by abrasive blasting. Typical users:
- Abrasive manufacturers and suppliers (sampling consignments)
- Quality control and materials testing laboratories (preparing test samples)
- Coatings specifiers, corrosion engineers and asset owners (verifying abrasive quality for surface preparation)
- Procurement and inspection teams (acceptance testing, traceability)
Related standards
- ISO 11125 (other parts): particle size (Part 2), hardness (Part 3), density (Part 4), moisture (Part 7), etc.
- ISO 11124 series: specifications and classification of metallic blast-cleaning abrasives.
Keywords: ISO 11125-1, metallic blast-cleaning abrasives, sampling, sample thief, test sample, steel substrate preparation, ISO 11124, quality control.